Title: Rethinking Headaches, Food Allergies, and Diet

Subtitle: An Exploration of the Dietary Causes & Cures of Chronic Headache and “Delayed Food Allergies”

Author: Christopher Travis Haun for http://rethinker.net/health

Update: September 2008

Feedback: Please feel free to email any feedback to cthaun[at]rethinker[dot]net

Contents:

Disclaimer

Summary / Overview / Introduction (the short version)

My Recommendations for Chronic Headache Sufferers

My List of Foods I’m Avoiding (my GATCRIS Diet)

My Symptoms

My Case History (the long, detailed boring version)

My Theories and Questions

Additional Info

Disclaimer:

This author assumes no responsibility for your health whatsoever. Use this wisdom at your own risk. There may be hundreds of possible causes for headache and dietary dynamics do not account for all of them. This rethink is not intended to replace or overrule any advice you may receive from your professional health care givers.

Summary / Overview / Introduction:

I suffered a headache that lasted basically fourteen months (July 2007 to September 2008). This doesn’t include two years of light and frequent headaches that preceded the fourteen-month long headache. It was caused by some dietary dynamic and was solved by dietary changes. The diet that ultimately relieved me of my headaches could be called the GATCRIS Diet. [I just made that up.] This stands for Glutamate, Aspartate, Tyramine, and Caffeine Restricted, Immune-System Soothing Diet.

The headaches and other symptoms proved clearly to be closely related to food sensitivities (IgG reactions). Classic allergy testing (upon the IgE response) gave me a good start on learning what triggers to avoid; but it was not adequate. For headache sufferers it is crucial to understand the difference between food allergies (IgE) and food sensitivities (IgG). Allergic reactions (IgE) to foods occur between 15 minutes and four hours of eating a food that the immune systems doesn’t like. Food sensitivity symptoms, however, may take up to 72 hours to show up. One of the purposes of this rethink is to pass along the wisdom to other headache sufferers the need to focusing on IgG blood tests rather than more traditional allergy testing. Ultimately it was the LEAP MRT food sensitivity testing (IgG response) results that allowed me to know which foods to avoid to escape my headache and all the other symptoms. One of the most important lessons learned was that headaches may have nothing to do with IgE food allergies but may have everything to do with IgG food sensitivities (also known by concession as “delayed food allergies”). Unfortunately it seems that most neurologists have not heard or embraced this wisdom yet.

My headaches were triggered and aggravated to debilitating levels by foods high in liberalized glutamate (like soy and MSG). It was tamed (to an endurable degree by practicing a glutamate restricted diet; foods and food additives high in free glutamate seemed to be a major trigger for the headaches. Fortunately (but perhaps not coincidentally) there was great overlap between my list of foods to avoid for IgE Allergies, for IgG sensitivities, and for freed-glutamate foods. Also fortunate (but perhaps not coincidental) the MRT test confirmed that I my immune system was reactive to foods high in Tyramine. Tyramines are also a well recognized migraine trigger.

On the theory (just a popular theory in some alternative health circles) that food allergies and sensitivities are possibly caused by malabsorption issues (“leaky gut”) in the intestines, I’m rethinking dietary theories with an attempt to be sensitive to the digestive system, the immune-system, the blood-brain-barrier, and glutamate receptors in the brain. The acronym for this more comprehensive healing (beyond the mere elimination of trigger food and symptoms) could be called the GATCHRIS Diet. This stands for the Glutamate, Gluten, Grain, Aspartate/Aspartame/Artificial-Sweeteners, Tyramine, Caffeine, Corn, and Casein, Hydrogenated Oil Restricted, Immune-System Soothing diet. While I am confident in saying that the GATCRIS diet took away my headaches (and other neurological symptoms) I cannot yet say that the CATCHRIS diet is accomplishing healing on the deepest root cause levels such that eventually my food allergies will disappear and I’ll be able to eat foods high in glutamate and Tyramine again.

My Recommendations for Chronic Headache Sufferers

First start with the following basic changes in diet. You absolutely MUST get away from MSG, Soy, Artificial Sweeteners, Caffeine, and Yeast. It is a must. I honestly wouldn’t recommend going to a doctor about a headache until you’ve spent at least two weeks rigorously avoiding these things. But learning how to avoid them can offer a serious challenge.

1. “Freed Glutamate”

Get used to the word glutamate. It’s a good word to know if you have headaches or any other spasmodic muscle condition. Any food or food additive that is high in freed glutamate (also known as free glutamate or liberalized glutamate). While ‘bound glutamates’ may be normal and fine, processes such as fermentation, hydrolyzation, aging, and heating can free the glutamates. Freed glutamates (a known “excitotoxin”) can kill neurons and are linked with headaches, seizures, and spasms. So take this seriously. You may be killing brain cells every time you poison yourself and get a headache. Monosodium-glutamate {MSG} is the chief example of a food that is high in freed glutamate but certainly not the only one. But there are dozens [hundreds?] of sources of “freed glutamate.”) The three main culprits that must be avoided are MSG, Soy, and “Natural flavors.” But even broccoli, tomatoes, and grapes are relatively high in free glutamate—so there is room for caution even with non-processed foods. (See the rest of this rethink for more details).